This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Programme to spread dental services
17/08/2005
A £30 million building programme to create up to 10
major new dental centres was announced today.
It will provide a range of dental services and outreach
training facilities for dental students in areas where the
service is particularly difficult to access.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"Improving access to dental services and ensuring that
patients benefit from up to date technology is vital to
ensure that we provide dental services fit for the 21st
century.
"No other government in history has invested so much in
Scottish dentistry, but record breaking investment must be
coupled with modernisation and reform.
"This investment will be crucial in achieving our goal
of bringing more treatment to local centres close to
people's homes, to deliver faster, better treatment.
"As a direct result of this funding new flexible,
innovative dental centres and practices will be developed
across the country. Fife will soon benefit from a new
Dental Access Centre in Kirkcaldy, a great example of the
NHS delivering the kind of services that people are asking
for.
"There is no doubt that transforming Scotland's
appalling record on oral health will take some time. There
is no overnight solution. However, the Action Plan for
improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services
in Scotland supported with investment in new facilities
where they are most needed will ensure progress."
The funding for the building programme
is part of the £65 million from the Primary and Community
Care Premises Modernisation programme announced on
Monday.
The money is being made available over
2006-08 and will be allocated through NHS Boards bidding to
the Executive.
NHS Fife received funding of £250,000
from the 2004-06 Primary and Community Care Premises
Modernisation programme towards the Kirkcaldy Dental Access
Centre which is due to open at the end of the year.